delphi - Why doesn't my TStringList gets sorted -

i have tstringlist create on formcreate

  scriptlist := tstringlist.create; 

in function in program after have loaded strings list have following code

  scriptlist.sorted := true;   scriptlist.sort;   := 0 scriptlist.count - 1     showmessage(scriptlist[i]); 

but list not sorted why that?

edited: filling list done following code

function tfrmmain.scriptslocate(const acomputer: boolean = false): integer; var   scriptpath: string;   templist: tstringlist; begin   templist := tstringlist.create;   try     if acomputer = true       begin         scriptpath := folders.dirscripts;         files.search(templist, scriptpath, '*.logon', false);         scriptlist.addstrings(templist);       end     else       begin         if servercheck           begin             scriptpath := serverpath + 'scripts_' + network.computername + '\';             folders.validate(scriptpath);             templist.clear;             files.search(templist, scriptpath, '*.logon', false);             scriptlist.addstrings(templist);             application.processmessages;              scriptpath := serverpath + 'scripts_' + 'shared\';             folders.validate(scriptpath);             templist.clear;             files.search(templist, scriptpath, '*.logon', false);             scriptlist.addstrings(templist);           end;       end;       templist.free;   end;   scriptlist.sort;   result := scriptlist.count; end; 

the filesearch function:

function tfiles.search(alist: tstringlist; apathname: string; const afile: string = '*.*'; const asubdirs: boolean = true): integer; var   rec: tsearchrec; begin   folders.validate(apathname, false);   if findfirst(apathname + afile, faanyfile - fadirectory, rec) = 0     try       repeat         alist.add(apathname + rec.name);       until findnext(rec) <> 0;           findclose(rec);     end;   result := alist.count;   if not asubdirs exit;   if findfirst(apathname + '*.*', fadirectory, rec) = 0     try       repeat         if ((rec.attr , fadirectory) <> 0)  , (rec.name<>'.') , (rec.name<>'..')           files.search(alist, apathname + rec.name, afile, true);         until findnext(rec) <> 0;           findclose(rec);     end;   result := alist.count; end; 

the main problem list filled ok items want, never gets sorted.

when set sorted true saying want list maintained in order. when new items added, inserted in order. when sorted true, sort method nothing because code built on assumption list order.

so, in code calling sort nothing , removed. however, take alternative approach, remove setting of sorted , call sort explicitly:

scriptlist.loadfromfile(...); scriptlist.sort; := 0 scriptlist.count - 1   ... 

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now, in fact think code not quite have claimed. claim load file, , set sorted true. cannot case. here setsorted implementation:

procedure tstringlist.setsorted(value: boolean); begin   if fsorted <> value   begin     if value sort;     fsorted := value;   end; end; 

so, if sorted false when set true, list sorted.

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but not explain report. because if sorted true when call loadfromfile, each new line inserted in order. so, report in question cannot whole story.

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unless making subsequent additions list, cleaner, in view, ignore sorted property. leave sorted default value of false. , call sort when want enforce ordering list. same, might worth digging bit deeper understand why assertions in question don't tally implementation of tstringlist.